John Toshack scored a hat-trick of headers to keep Liverpool in the UEFA Cup on 30 September 1975. His three goals defeated Hibernian 3–1 at Anfield and overturned the Scottish side's first-leg advantage, sending Bob Paisley's team through 3–2 on aggregate.
Liverpool had lost 1–0 at Easter Road thirteen days earlier. Winning the return was therefore essential, but the home side's task became more complicated when Hibernian scored an away goal before half-time.
Toshack had initially brought the tie level. He headed Liverpool ahead in the 21st minute from a Kevin Keegan delivery, cancelling out the deficit carried down from Edinburgh. The lead lasted twelve minutes before Alex Edwards equalised for the visitors.
At the interval, Liverpool were behind on aggregate again. Hibernian's away goal also meant that a single further Liverpool goal would not be enough: a 2–1 home victory would leave the aggregate level and the Scottish side ahead on away goals. Liverpool needed two more without reply.
Paisley introduced Jimmy Case for Steve Heighway at half-time. Toshack supplied the goals the situation demanded, first restoring Liverpool's lead early in the second half from Brian Hall's delivery, then completing his hat-trick in the 64th minute from Ian Callaghan's cross.
All three headers came from service on the right. Keegan, Hall and Callaghan each provided a different delivery, but the decisive figure in the penalty area remained the same. Toshack had scored Liverpool's first equaliser in the tie, restored hope after Edwards' intervention and finally put them ahead on aggregate.
The remaining minutes produced no further change to the score. Liverpool had survived the first round by a single goal, with Toshack accounting for every one of their goals across the two legs.
The narrow escape became the opening chapter of a successful European campaign. Liverpool went on to win the UEFA Cup for the second time in four seasons; their progress had first depended on three headers against Hibernian, and on turning a difficult half-time position into a place in the next round.